The Seattle CityPASS® Tourist Card: all you need to know

The Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass are just a few of the many things to see and do in Seattle and the Seattle CityPASS® can help.

You can get the Seattle CityPASS® for as little as 95 euros. The first thing you need to know is that this tourist card is valid for 9 days from the date of first use and will expire one year from the date of purchase.

During those 9 days that it will be active, you will be able to access the attractions included without paying anything extra and avoiding the long queues to enter the sites you want to visit. Therefore, it will be very useful to enter museums and enjoy the most popular activities in which, if you don't have this pass, you will lose a lot of time just to buy the ticket.

It's simple. You get your pass and can present it as admission to the included attractions directly from your mobile device. Or, if you prefer, you can print it out and use it on paper.

Activation and validity

From the moment you purchase your Seattle CityPASS®, it will be valid for one year. As for how to start using it, it will activate automatically the first time you use it at a Seattle attraction. From that moment on, you will be able to enjoy it for 9 days.

It is important to remember this: to count the 9 days of validity of the pass, the day you use it for the first time will be taken into account, but not the time. So I recommend that you don't start using your Seattle CityPASS® at the end of the day, but at the beginning of the day to get the most out of the 9 days.

Within the attractions pack included in the Seattle CityPASS®, you'll find a total of 5 activities, 2 fixed and you can choose 3 more from an extensive list. This allows you to tailor-make your trip to meet the top attractions on your wish list.

Attractions and activities included in the Seattle CityPASS® sightseeing pass

You will have access to these two attractions:

• Space Needle: this is a world-famous, 184-metre tall, quirky structure located in downtown Seattle and is a symbol of the city. You will reach the top by lift and will find a revolving restaurant and one of the most impressive observatories from which you will see the whole city.

• Seattle Aquarium: is Seattle's public aquarium and welcomes almost a million visitors each year. Between exhibits and activities it offers fun and exciting ways to discover more about marine life.

You'll learn more about salmon, sea otters, puffer fish, sharks and giant clams, among the many species housed under the sea. You can even touch some of the smaller marine animals such as sea anemones.

In addition, you can choose 3 of the following attractions:

• 1 hour boat ride on the lake with Argosy Cruises: you will be able to appreciate the best views of Seattle from the water while enjoying a unique and exclusive cruise experience. A different way to get to know Seattle.
• Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): is a museum dedicated to contemporary popular culture that houses numerous permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as sound sculptures and much more.

Historically, it was an experimental music project and science fiction museum, until it became the Museum of Pop Culture. Here you'll find exhibits on popular culture, including video games, horror films, science fiction literature and various genres of music.

• Woodland Park Zoo: Home to the most diverse wildlife, this zoological garden in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighbourhood has received more than 65 awards in multiple categories.
• Chihuly Garden and Glass: This is one of Seattle's best known and most popular exhibits. Here you will find Dale Chihuly's colourful glass sculptures. You can visit the eight galleries, a lush garden and the impressive glass house.

You can tour the garden, greenhouse and indoor exhibits. Other spaces include a large café, a multi-purpose theatre with seating for about 50 people and a dedicated conference space, retail space and much more.

Attractions not included in the Seattle CityPASS®

As you can see from this list there are major absences such as the Sky View Observatory which is not included in the Seattle CityPASS®. Neither is admission to the Museum of Flight and the Boeing Factory, the Seattle Art Museum or the Pacific Science Center. If you want to do any of these activities, you will have to pay for them separately.

Still, considering that the ones included in the Seattle CityPASS® are the most popular, I can assure you that it is still the most cost-effective option.

I don't have a concrete answer to that question, it's going to depend on how you use it, how much time you have to get around the city and what you want to see in Seattle. I can only give you the certainty that if you take advantage of the Seattle CityPASS® you will save money and time.

By purchasing this pass you will have 5 attractions included and you will avoid the queues at the most popular and crowded activities, that's for sure. So if you're the type of traveller who prioritises time and money, don't hesitate any longer.

When is the Seattle CityPASS® Tourist Pass® the right thing to do?

If you're interested in learning about the history of Seattle and you don't want to miss the main landmarks of the city, I advise you to make a list of their prices separately, add them up and compare them with the price of the pass. That way you'll have a better idea of whether it's worth it or not.

• The Seattle CityPASS® includes the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, MoPOP, Woodland Park Zoo and Chihuly Garden and Glass. With these attractions you can see the city from the iconic tower, visit the zoo, the aquarium and one of Seattle's most important museums. All this makes it the most cost-effective way to visit the city's main attractions.
• If you're looking for a different experience, you can also choose to take an hour-long ride to enjoy the most beautiful views of Lake Washington, which is also included.
• If you want to see a lot in a short time, the Seattle CityPASS® is the most convenient option. You'll have a variety of activities to choose from that will allow you to take in the highlights of the city. You'll have everything included, you won't have to waste time standing in long lines, and you'll simply have to organise the attractions the way you want to, considering the number of days you have.
• In general, if you're visiting Seattle between November and January, which are the coldest, wettest and rainiest months of the year, you'll want to have this card so you can choose activities that will also keep you out of the weather indoors.

When is the Seattle CityPASS® not convenient?

• If you're going to be in Seattle for an extended period of time, you won't need to pack all your sightseeing into a few days, so the Seattle CityPASS® may not be very cost-effective and you may want to organise the attractions you want to see, coordinating the days as you see fit.
• If you're a type of traveller who prefers to stay away from the typical, touristy or crowded places, you won't get much out of this pass either.

If you've already decided that you'd like to purchase the Seattle CityPASS®, here are a few things you can do to make the most of it so you can definitely get the most out of it.

Plan your visit to the city

It's clear that a Seattle CityPASS® will be helpful if you're visiting the city for a short period of time so you can see as much as possible, but that doesn't mean you can improvise and rush around, as you'll miss out on the benefits of the Seattle CityPASS® and won't get enough of the city.

Good planning, taking into account the days, times and locations of the activities included in the pass, will allow you to access the most tourist attractions, being able to take advantage and enjoy each one of them. I recommend that before you start your trip, make a list of the attractions you want to see and organise them according to where they are located.

Keep in mind that in many of these areas you will also have the opportunity to take a tour of Seattle or a free walking tour. By this I mean, don't think that buying the Seattle CityPASS® means spending all day sightseeing, running from one side of the city to the other, but you can organise different activities by zones and times and combine them as you like.

Keep in mind the times of the attractions you want to visit

Before activating your card, it is important to check the opening and closing times of museums and tourist attractions. Also bear in mind that some are closed on public holidays or special days.

Once you find out all this information, arrange to activate your card on a day that is not a public holiday or when an attraction does not have limited opening hours. Also, if you're short on time and can't spare the day, you can take advantage of the Lake Washington ride.

Check the included attractions before visiting the city.

You may be walking or taking a free downtown tour and not know that your Seattle CityPASS® includes admission to the Space Needle. So, before you plan your trip and the activities you will do, check the attractions included in your pass to optimise your visit to the city.

I also recommend that you ask at the shops or restaurants you go to if you have discounts with this card, as you may get discounts at local restaurants or shops.

With the Seattle CityPASS® Tourist Card, you'll get all of the city's most popular and well-known attractions included, but you'll still have a few things left to see.

You can combine the Seattle CityPASS® Tourist Card with a Seattle Sightseeing Bus tour to complete your sightseeing experience. In just under an hour and a half, you'll get to see iconic landmarks like Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Seattle Center, Occidental Park, Seattle Public Library, and more.

You will also have a wide variety of excursions to do from Seattle to surrounding areas full of nature and attractions to visit. You can find more information at: Best tours from Seattle.

In addition, you can complete the experience by including a food tour of Seattle and discover the most unique flavours of the city. Here you can get more information: Best food tours in Seattle.

I recommend that if you have some time left in the city, you visit on your own some of the attractions not included in this pass, but which are not to be missed: Museum of Flight and the Boeing Factory, Seattle Art Museum and Pacific Science Center.